Eric Adams says he's staying in New York City mayoral race amid speculation over reelection bid
Trump advisers had pushed for him to get an ambassadorship to exit the race, sources told ABC News
NEW YORK -- New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he will continue his bid for reelection in November.
Adams made the announcement at a Friday press conference following reports that advisers to President Donald Trump have been making efforts over the last few weeks to persuade him to drop out of the race -- a push that gained momentum in recent days with a potential ambassador post in Saudi Arabi being floated among the options to get Adams to drop out, sources told ABC News.
The mayor called Andrew Cuomo a "snake and a liar," and insisted he is still running for reelection and will beat Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
"This polo shirt that I'm wearing that says Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York, I'm going to wear that for another four years. We can't go backwards," said.
Adams framed the race between a working class mayor and "two spoiled brats running for mayor. They were born with silver spoons in their mouths."
"They are not like us. They've never had to fight. They've never had to struggle," he said. "They've never had to go through difficult times like you and I have to go through."
The mayor also denied he is traveling to Washington Monday.
"Those reports are wrong. I'll be moving around the city in the five boroughs that made me mayor in the first place," he said. "I'm running for reelection."
Trump reacted to Adams' announcement on Friday, denying that he offered the mayor an ambassadorship, and saying Adams is "free to do what he wants."
Adams painted the reports as a broader effort to push him out of the mayoral race, which he says mirrors the plight of so many New Yorkers.
"How many times... I've been told throughout this journey, to step aside, to surrender, to give up, to give in? That's the same thing we tell everyday New Yorkers," Adams said. "Everyday New Yorkers are not giving up, are not giving in, are not surrendering. So the mayor is not going to do that."
Adams' announcement comes amid sources telling ABC News that a recent in-person meeting between Trump adviser Steve Witkoff and Adams in Florida was a clear push to get the mayor to drop out and accept the potential ambassador post.
Adams was said to be weighing his options, including opportunities in the private sector, though sources caution for now that a decision is not imminent.
The Florida meeting was first reported by The New York Times.
"Serving New Yorkers as their mayor is the only job I've ever wanted. I'm proud of the progress we've made lowering crime, improving schools, building housing, and cutting costs for working families -- and I remain the best person to lead this city forward," Adams said in a statement earlier Friday responding to reports of the discussions.
"While I will always listen if called to serve our country, no formal offers have been made. I am still running for reelection, and my full focus is on the safety and quality of life of every New Yorker," Adams said.
Sources tell ABC News the Trump team has been hearing from Republican donors in New York pleading with Trump aides to get involved out of fear that Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, who currently leads in polling, could win the November contest.
"Then it's on to Sliwa, but that's a tougher nut," one source familiar with the efforts told ABC News, referring to Republican mayoral nominee Curtis Sliwa, who has publicly vowed to stay in the race.
"I'd prefer not to have a communist mayor of New York City," Trump said Thursday night when asked by reporters for his thoughts on the New York City contest. "So I would, I would like to see two people drop out and have it be one-on-one. And I think that's a race that could be won."
If Adams and Sliwa were to exit, that would mean Mamdani's remaining major rival would be former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running on the independent line after losing the June Democratic primary.
Mamdani responded to Adams, saying on Friday that he will continue his re-election and that his own campaign remains focused on "on the affordability crisis - created by Andrew Cuomo and inflamed by Eric Adams."
"In November, we're going to deliver a city working New Yorkers can afford and turn the page on the broken, billionaire-backed politics of the past," Mamdani said in a statement to ABC News.
Cuomo, sources told ABC News, was spotted Friday morning meeting with political activist and power broker Al Sharpton, who has not made any endorsement in the race.
Gov. Kathy Hochul stood firm Friday morning that New York City elections should stay free and clear without any kind of interference.
"Contrary to what the president thinks, he's not a king. He's not a kingmaker. He should be not anointing the next mayor of New York City-that should be the right of New Yorkers to determine. No one should be accepting that assistance. It should be rejected."
But Jim Walden, an independent candidate who suspended his own campaign this week, agrees that other candidates should also drop out of the race in order to defeat Mamdani.
"If there are two or three candidates in the race, Mamdani will win, but in a one-on-one race, Mamdani is likely going to lose," Walden said.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
